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Pullups and dips are both excellent exercises that work a variety of muscles. Among others, they are both popular exercises to increase upper body strength. But with a pull-up bar or a combined pull-up and dip bar you can add many more exercises to your workout than just pull-ups and/or dips.
There are a variety of pullup bars and dip bars together with high-end pullup and dip stations or even full-blown racks available on the market.
In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of pullup bars, dip bars, pullup stations, and dip stations.
We will also explain which muscles are worked when doing pullups and dips.
This article is not only meant for people who are about to start out on the adventure of setting up a new home gym – no, our goal is nothing less than to come up with a full and comprehensive guide into the vast area of different possibilities of fitting pull up and dip equipment into your home gym.
After reading this article, you should have a good understanding of what type of pullup bar or dip bar is best for you – or if you even want to go all-out and get yourself a power-rack!
The Pullup and the Dip
Back in the day, there was a standard strict pull-up. No kipping pull-up, no butterfly pull-up, no L-seat pull-up, etc…
The same applies to the dip – you could do a dip on a straight bar or on parallel bars. That was it…
But today – mostly thanks to the calisthenics movement and their laws of nature-defying movements – the imagination is the limit.
New movements brought new exercises which necessitated new workout equipment.
New high-quality materials also played a role in the development of advanced strength training equipment which moved away from providing a simple bar to a piece of exercise equipment with multiple grip positions.
Just have a look at what “doing pull-ups” means today:
The Different Types of the Pull Up
… and especially the calisthenics people will agree with me when I say that this is by far not an exhaustive list!
As said before the pull-up works a number of muscle groups and muscles at once. Depending on which kind of pull-up exercise you do, your whole upper body including your abs will be involved.
And how about the Dip?
Most people will include triceps dips or the chest-dip in their strength training routine.
For the dip you will definitely need at least a pull-up bar that stands clear of obstacles. A doorway-mounted bar or even a wall or ceiling-mounted bar will not do the trick for you.
Personally, I would not get myself a dedicated dip-station – either wall mounted or as a stand-alone solution – simply because I don´t see the benefits. But this is my personal opinion and it maybe also results from the fact that I usually do way more pull-ups than dips anyway…
That might be the reason why I prefer to invest a little more and get a multi-grip pull-up station with an integrated dip-station.
But more on that later…
The Different Pull-Up Grips
As the variety of pull-up possibilities has increased, so have the different grip options evolved. A good pullup and dip bar provides multiple grip options and also adjustment possibilities.
You will see that the simple doorway-mounted pull-up bar obviously will not give you the possibilities for multiple exercises that a power tower is able to offer.
But on the other hand, you will also have to adjust to available space. Then the doorway-mounted bar is a great solution. And don´t get me wrong: this simple bar is a great starting point that I have used for several years myself!
As you make progress on your fitness journey, you will also find out about the different pull-up grips:
- Normal or shoulder-wide grip
- Narrow grip
- Wide grip
- Supinated grip
- Hammer grip
- Reverse grip
You see: not only are there many different pull-up variations but there are also many different grip positions.
And this leads me to one main decision that you have to make before you start out and buy workout equipment:
What are your goals? What do you want to train? Which exercises do you want to perform?
Together with the answer to the question of how much available space you have for – or in – your home gym, the answers to the above questions should finally lead you to the type of workout equipment that suits your needs best.
Many Exercises More
If you have more space available and if you are serious about your workout goals, you will quickly find out the enormous advantages that a combined pull-up and dip station has.
The number of possible bodyweight exercises multiplies, your workouts become more diversified and more fun, and your overall fitness level will increase much faster.
But let’s have a look at what kind of exercise equipment for pull-ups and dips are out there and which kind of exercises you can perform with these.
A Beginner’s Guide To Crossfit Lingo
Crossfit LingoEntry level – the doorframe pull-up bar
What it is
The most basic version of pull-up bars. Door frame-mounted versions will always leave a mark on either side of the frame. Don´t let anybody tell you something else!
Even if you use good rubber paddings – you will still need to exert a lot of pressure on the door frame since you want your pull-up bar to stay in place while you exercise. And this will leave marks!
The second version of pull-up bars using the doorway are those that work like a hook. These are simply hung into the open doorway.
For me, these versions never worked, as my doorways are mounted flush with the rest of the wall.
These versions will mostly give you more different grip options, but these will also leave their marks on your doorway or on the walls around the frame.
Plus, I do not really like the idea of putting my whole weight onto something that is not bolted to the wall or some other stable structure.
The weight capacity of both versions – telescopic doorway mounted or the ones that hang from the door frame – is quite limited.
Also, the number of exercises you can do is also quite limited. The doorway is mostly not wide enough, the bar can mostly not be mounted high enough and the doorway prevents you from doing any exercise that needs some space above the bar.
But all that said: if you do have no other way to do pullups then this is definitely better than nothing!
What you can do with it
Pull-Ups:
- Shoulder wide
- Close grip
- Supinated grip
- Brachialis
- L-Seat
- Seated
- Scapula
- Rocky (if the doorway is not in the way)
The bar-version that hangs from the doorway might provide enough grip variations to additionally let you do:
- Hammer grip pullups
What you can NOT do with it
Pull-Ups:
- Kipping
- Butterfly
- Commando (doorway usually prevents you from doing these)
- Jumping
- Wide grip
Dip:
- Dips (any kind)
One interesting option that might be worth looking into in this category are the JayFlex Cross Grips. Small, easy to mount, robust, and with normal-grip and hammer-grip handles. A definite pro for the JayFlex Cross Grips is their portability. You can easily take them with you on any journey!
Additionally, you can use them as push-up handles on the floor.
Back And Tricep Workouts For Maximum Upper Body Potential
Back And Tricep WorkoutsWall-mounted and Ceiling-mounted Pull Up Bars
What it is
Bolted to the wall or the ceiling, these kinds of bars provide more stability – the first advantage!
As they are not limited to the space of a doorway, these bars can be built wider and with more grip options – a second advantage!
Plus – provided you got enough space around the bar and away from the wall – you can also perform exercises like kipping pull-ups.
Disadvantage: you have to mount them properly – drill holes in your walls. And once they are mounted, they are a part of your apartment´s interior, if you want to use them in your apartment.
If you are going to use it in your garage gym then this is no argument anyway…
…a wall-mounted pull-up bar with multiple grip options
…and a ceiling-mounted version
What you can do with it
Pull-Ups:
- Shoulder wide
- Close grip
- Supinated grip
- Brachialis
- L-Seat
- Scapula
- Rocky
- Hammer grip
- Kipping
- Butterfly
- Commando
- Jumping
- Wide grip
- and any other pull-up version that comes into your mind 😉
Dip:
- Straight Bar-Dips (if you have enough space above the bar)
What you can NOT do with it
Pull-Ups:
- Seated
Dip:
- Parallel Bar-Dip
Dip Bars
What it is
The classic dip bar really only consists of two parallel bars – either as two separate units that can be placed on the ground or as a single piece of equipment.
The construction itself only allows you to do dips and dips only.
I never owned these bars myself but I did have the opportunity to have them incorporated into some workouts.
The stability of free-standing dip bars did not convince me. But for somebody else, these might work out just fine.
Plus the fact that these items are not bolted to some wall or the ground makes them highly transportable – especially when they come delivered with a storage bag.
What you can do with it
Pull-ups:
- Seated (if your bar is high enough above the ground – there are devices that can be adjusted in height as well)
Dip:
- Parallel Bar-Dip
- Straight Bar-Dip (if your bar has a stable stand on the ground)
What you can NOT do with it
Pull-Ups:
- Shoulder wide
- Close grip
- Supinated grip
- Brachialis
- L-Seat
- Scapula
- Rocky
- Hammer grip
- Kipping
- Butterfly
- Commando
- Jumping
- Wide grip
Wall-mounted Dip Bars / Dip Stations
What it is
Wall-mounted dip bars and dip stations have a huge advantage over their stand-alone siblings when it comes to stability.
Additionally, better versions also have cushioned areas where you can rest your forearms and do leg raises or other ab exercises.
Usually, you won´t find these items in a home gym. Their use is quite limited and the invested money does not stand in any relation to the use.
However, if you are looking for a station to do dipping strength training because for a certain reason you need to do exactly this exercise, then rather go for a mounted dip station.
What you can do with it
Pull-Ups:
- none
Dip:
- Parallel Bar-Dip
Other:
- Several Ab exercises
What you can NOT do with it
- Anything else than dips
Wall mounted Pull Up and Dip Bars
What it is
The next step up from all other exercise equipment that we have covered above is the wall-mounted Pull-Up and Dip-Bars.
People who are serious about their strength training and want to own a properly equipped home gym will not get around this device.
Extremely versatile and very interesting for those who want to make the most of their available space when equipping their home gym, these combined systems act as pull-up bars with many different grip positions as well as dip stations.
All you have to do is take them off their arresting hook, flip them around and put them back into their mountings.
If you buy a quality product, weight capacity or stability will not be an issue.
What you will definitely need is either a concrete or brick wall to support the weight of the whole loaded system.
What you can do with it
Pull-Ups:
- Shoulder wide
- Close grip
- Supinated grip
- Brachialis
- L-Seat
- Scapula
- Rocky
- Hammer grip
- Kipping
- Butterfly
- Commando
- Jumping
- Wide grip
Dip:
- Parallel Bar-Dip
- Straight Bar-Dip (if you have enough space above the bar)
Other:
- Bar Muscle Ups (if you have enough space above the bar)
- Several Ab exercises
What you can NOT do with it
- Fly to the moon
The Pull-up Station
What it is
A pure stand-alone pull-up station with a simple pull-up bar or maybe a pull-up bar with different grip options.
Do you have absolutely no wall available to mount any pull-up bar or a combined pull-up and dip-station to it? Then you might have to go for a pull-up station.
You will need space for this device and if you want to improve your gym with a high-quality version (which you should!) you need to look at the well-known brands in that area like Rogue Fitness and the likes…
A pull-up station with nothing else than a pull-up bar to it might be the way to go if you need a device for kipping or butterfly pull-ups.
There you might not want additional accessories attached to your station to avoid injuries.
What you can do with it
Pull-Ups:
- Shoulder wide
- Close grip
- Supinated grip
- Brachialis
- L-Seat
- Scapula
- Rocky
- Hammer grip
- Kipping
- Butterfly
- Commando
- Jumping
- Wide grip
Dip:
- Straight Bar-Dip (if you have enough space above the bar)
Other:
- Bar Muscle Ups (if you have enough space above the bar)
- Several Ab exercises
What you can NOT do with it
Pull-Ups:
- None
Dip:
- Parallel Bar-Dip
The Dip Station
What it is
This piece of equipment is also rarely seen in a home gym and that is for a reason. Most people don´t have vast spaces in their home gym that need to be filled with devices of limited use.
And I have to give the dip station that title – a device of limited use.
You need a lot of space and you can do only certain exercises on it.
Just as the wall-mounted dip-station, you might have to ask yourself if the money is really worth it.
What you can do with it
Pull-Ups:
- none
Dip:
- Parallel Bar-Dip
Other:
- Several Ab exercises
What you can NOT do with it
Pull-Ups:
- Shoulder wide
- Close grip
- Supinated grip
- Brachialis
- L-Seat
- Scapula
- Rocky pull-up/pull-down
- Hammer grip
- Kipping
- Butterfly
- Commando
- Jumping
- Wide grip
Dip:
- Straight Bar-Dip
The Power Tower
What it is
The Power Tower combines the pull-up station with the dip-station. It is a stand-alone unit, you do not have to mount it to a wall, it is stable (if you buy a high-quality product) and it delivers a lot of usability for the money invested.
By the way: “Money” is the keyword here! You need to spend quite some money to get a good quality addition to your gym.
For the sake of your safety, don´t buy any cheap products!
What you can do with it
Pull-Ups:
- Shoulder wide
- Close grip
- Supinated grip
- Brachialis
- L-Seat
- Scapula
- Rocky
- Hammer grip
- Kipping
- Butterfly
- Commando
- Jumping
- Wide grip
Dip:
- Straight Bar-Dip (if you have enough space above the bar)
- Parallel Bar-Dip
Other:
- Several Ab exercises
What you can NOT do with it
- Nothing
Pull-Up Racks (with Dip-Station and other add ons)
What it is
You have the money, you have the space you are dedicated to your fitness and you want to go all in?
Then a rack is what you are looking for!
Get what the pros use – the rack is the ultimate tool for strength training. Pull-ups and dips in any variation can be done on a rack. Additionally, your rack can also hold weight plates, and barbells and with a myriad of add-on equipment a rack is unbeatable when it comes to versatility.
Conclusion
As you can see: pull-ups and dips have many variations. The right equipment for you can be a simple door-mounted pull-up bar. Or it could be a full-blown professional power rack.
It depends on your needs, the available space, the amount of money you want to spend, etc…
Once I am committed to doing something, I usually go all in and I will find a way to get the best solution for my needs.
You should have a good idea now of what you can get and what the pros and cons of each piece of equipment are. It only depends on which path you want your fitness journey to take.
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Maybe you are also interested in mental health topics as well? Then don´t miss our article on visualization here.
